Final answer:
The Avignon Papacy was a period when the papacy was moved from Rome to Avignon, weakening the Pope's authority and sparking the Great Western Schism with multiple appointed Popes. The issues started with Pope Boniface VIII's conflict with King Philip IV. The papacy's reputation was partially restored after the Council of Constance persuaded two of the Popes to resign.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Avignon Papacy, also known as the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy, was a period in the 14th century when the Pope lived in Avignon, France, instead of in Rome, significantly influencing the strength and reputation of the papacy. The problems started with Pope Boniface VIII and King Philip IV of France. As King Philip tried to tax the French clergy, Pope Boniface VIII issued a document asserting the papal supremacy over secular rulers, leading to a conflict that ended with Philip attempting to kidnap the Pope in 1303.
Following this, the papacy was moved by the newly elected French pope, who was an ally of King Philip, from Rome to Avignon, where it remained under ostensible French control until 1376. This period weakened the Pope's spiritual prestige and led many to question the integrity of the church.
However, the Avignon Papacy ended when Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome in 1377. Yet, disagreements persisted over who was the legitimate Pope, beginning a period known as the Great Western Schism where at one point, there were three appointed popes. The Schism finally ended with the Council of Constance (1414–1418) where two of the popes were persuaded to resign, but the papacy's reputation had been significantly tarnished.
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